Device for applying a fluid or pasty product to keratinous fibres

ABSTRACT

A device for applying a fluid and/or pasty product to keratinous fibers. The device includes an elongate core extending along a longitudinal axis XX and at least one supple flexible wand oriented longitudinally and inset at least at a first point onto the longitudinal core, the core and the at least one wand being obtained by injection molding in a single piece. The core is made of a first plastic material and the at least one wand is made of at least one second plastic material.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of applicators for applying a fluidor pasty product to keratinous fibers such as eyelashes or eyebrows.Specifically, the applicators covered by the invention make it possibleto apply a cosmetic, make-up or skincare product to the hair, eyelashesor eyebrows. It can also be used to apply a cosmetic product to the skinof an individual.

In a known fashion, these applicators essentially comprise two elements:a core with an elongate shape on which at least one row of teeth or pinsor projections is arranged. This is the easiest way to produceapplicators of this type.

PRIOR ART

Many documents that disclose products of this type are known, and theyaim, above all, to make it possible to load and then apply theappropriate product in an easy, straightforward and reliable manner,with a uniform result. In the field in question, such an applicator issaid to need to perform a function of loading, a function of separating,a function of defining or even a function of curving.

A make-up brush having a mounting on which bristles are regularly andindividually implanted has already been known for some time now, forexample from the teaching of document FR 2 505 633. According to onefeature of this invention, the mounting and the bristles (or pins orprojections) are formed by injection of a single moldable material.

For illustrative purposes, document FR 2,850,549 discloses a brush forapplying a product to keratinous fibers, including a core supportingbristles, at least one portion of which extends in a curled manner.

Document FR 2,902,984 further discloses an applicator including a coreand at least two rows of teeth each oriented differently relative to anouter surface of the core. This type of applicator aims to improve theapplication of a product, in particular in terms of penetration of theteeth between the eyelashes or others, of smoothing of the product onthe eyelashes, and of separating same.

Document EP 1,593,320 is also known, describing a mascara applicatormade up of a plurality of parts which are movable relative to oneanother and, in particular, a supporting member in which an adjustmentelement can slide axially. This mobility makes it possible to change thedistance between the two ends of a deformable portion of the supportelement. It is the actual user who modifies the distance between the twoends and thus the outer volume of the applicator which comprisesportions that are radially deformable under the action of the adjustmentelement. Thus, this prior art does not disclose at least one supple wandforming a block with the longitudinal core and inset at least at twopoints onto said longitudinal core.

Patent application FR 2,506,581 A1 is also known, which discloses amake-up brush of the same type as those disclosed above, made up of aplurality of parts which are movable relative to one another.

Also known from French patent FR 2,963,215 is an applicator device whichmakes it possible to adjust and/or control the suppleness of the teeththat form same; this device thus is made up of one core and a pluralityof rows of pins; a first series of pins extends from the core to alongitudinal wand while a second series of pins has a first endconnected to the wand and a second free end. This type of applicatormakes it possible to adjust and/or control the suppleness of the teeth(or pins). However, such an applicator lacks radial suppleness; itsradial deformability is very low, and this is a drawback when it needsto pass through an annular element referred to as wiper placed at theexit of the container of the product to be applied. Indeed, the “load”,i.e. the amount of product picked up by the device, is not optimal andmay be insufficient for correct application to the eyelashes using sucha known device.

The prior art also includes European patent application EP 11,817,345,which describes a device for applying a fluid or pasty product tokeratinous fibers, comprising an elongate core extending along alongitudinal axis XX, which is made of a plastic material and isobtained by injection in a single piece; said device also comprises atleast one supple, flexible wand oriented longitudinally and inset atleast at one first point and one second point onto said longitudinalcore, so as to provide at least one bending area perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis XX. Pins or projections may advantageously be providedon the core and/or the supple wands. The bending obtained with saidapplicator is interesting; however, only the geometric difference makesit possible here to change said bending, since this device is made of asingle plastic material, molded by injection.

Thus, there are limits to the technical features obtained with this typeof applicator; in addition, the rheology of the plastic material usedlimits the possible geometries for the pins (or projections) present onthe core and on the supple wands; similar geometries and dimensionsshould be provided over the entire applicator. This is a notabletechnical drawback, as will be understood upon reading the advantagesprovided by the present invention.

As regards the applicators made of two different materials, patentapplication EP 2,676,781 A1 is known, showing an applicator having acore made of two materials, on which pins made of the same two materialsare stood on end. The claimed manufacturing method is relativelycomplex, so that only specific and determined shapes and geometries canbe produced with such a method. In no case is it contemplated to formsupple wands, as in application EP 11,817,345, with such a method.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and, inparticular, to propose a multi-material applicator according to whichthe core is made of a first plastic material, and flexible wands aremade of one or more other materials.

The invention thus relates to a device for applying a fluid and/or pastyproduct to keratinous fibers, comprising an elongate core extendingalong a longitudinal axis XX and at least one supple, flexible wandoriented longitudinally and inset at least at one first point onto thelongitudinal core, the core and said at least one wand being obtained byinjection in a single piece.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the core is made of afirst plastic material and said at least one wand is made of at leastone second plastic material.

A person skilled in the art chooses the plastic material, orthermoplastic polymer, that is best suited to the needs and whichdisplays good behavior during the injection and molding phases. Inparticular, the chemical nature and the hardness of the plastic materialcan be adapted to the cosmetic composition to be applied to thekeratinous fibers, or to the skin of the user.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said at least one supplewand is inset near a first end of the core and/or near a second end ofthe core.

More particularly, the device comprises at least one first supple wandformed from a second plastic material and at least one second supplewand formed from a third plastic material.

Interestingly, the applicator device also comprises projections (orpins) provided on and originating from the core and/or said at least onewand. Very interestingly, the applicator according to the invention canhave pins made of different materials and originating from the core andflexible wands, respectively. The plastic materials that make up thedevice according to the invention have a direct relationship with thecapacity of the associated cosmetic composition, the behavior of whichis thus differentiated.

The projections preferably have an elongate shape and are orientedsubstantially radially with respect to the longitudinal axis XX.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention, said at least onesupple wand is made up of two elongate portions belonging to the samelongitudinal plane, the two portions being curved, substantiallyparallel to one another and inset onto the core, together at least atone point. Longitudinally “reinforced” wands are thus provided.

Said two elongate portions of the supple wand are preferably insettogether at two points near each end of the core.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, said projections canbe provided on at least one of said wands and be petal-shaped in a frontview.

Furthermore, one of the ends of the core can be provided withprojections made of a second plastic material.

Moreover, the minimum hardness difference between the materialconstituting the core and the one or more materials constituting said atleast one wand is 5 Shore A or 5 Shore D.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the core hassubstantially an elongate feather shape along the XX axis, and said wandis capable of spreading a cosmetic composition onto the skin via anouter longitudinal edge, the core and the wand being arrangedsubstantially in the same longitudinal plane. The outer edge of the wandmakes it possible, in particular, to spread a composition onto the skinof a user; here the wand serves as an eye-liner; here the core comprisesprojections stood on end on the outer surface thereof, preferablyperpendicular to said surface. The projections are capable of spreadinga suitable composition onto keratinous fibers such as the eyelashes. Adevice is produced here which fulfils at least two functions: spreadingat least one composition onto the skin and onto keratinous fibers.

According to the invention, said at least one supple wand is inset atthe two ends thereof, has a convex shape and is provided with a concavereinforcement belonging to the same longitudinal plane.

Furthermore, said at least one wand can have a corrugated shape. One ormore corrugations (or waves) can constitute said corrugated shape.Linear segments juxtaposed and oriented in at least two directions canconstitute at least one of said flexible wands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearfrom the following description, in reference to the appended figures,which show:

FIG. 1, a perspective view of an applicator device according to a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1A, a front view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2, a perspective view according to a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2A, a front view of the device according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 3, a side view of the device according to a third embodiment;

FIGS. 4 to 10 are diagrams showing side views of applicator devicesprovided with elongate wands having different shapes;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a bi-material applicator comprising a singleflexible elongate wand, made up of a double arch;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a tri-material applicator comprising aplurality of double-arch-type elongate wands;

FIG. 13 is a variant of FIG. 12, which shows a plurality ofdouble-arch-type wands, each of which is bi-material;

FIG. 14 is a view of a bi-material applicator having a plurality offlexible wands provided with petal-shaped pins;

FIG. 14A is a front view of the applicator of FIG. 14;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 14;

FIGS. 16 and 17 show a variant of a substantially feather-shapedapplicator according to the length thereof.

For further clarity, identical or similar elements will be identified byidentical reference signs in all the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention, according to which theapplicator device comprises a core 1, for example cylindrical andelongate according to a longitudinal axis XX, as well as a flexible,supple wand 2 oriented longitudinally. Here, the wand 2 is inset at twopoints onto the core 1: at a first point near a first end 10 of the core1, and at a second point near the second end 11 of the core 1. The firstend can also be referred to as “proximal end” in this text, while thesecond end 11 of the core 1 can be referred to as “distal end”. Theapplicator according to FIG. 1 also comprises pins 13, 23 that areelongate and stood on end on the core 1 as well as on the wand 2. Thepins 13, 23 are preferably oriented radially in relation to the core 1;the number thereof is chosen by a person skilled in the art, as is thedensity and the length thereof. These parameters are chosen, inparticular, as a function of the nature of the cosmetic composition (orfluid and/or pasty product) to be applied.

FIG. 1A shows, in front view from the distal end 11, such an applicatordevice. This figure also shows that the distal end 11 is here somehowcovered with a spherical continuation 20 from which pins originate. Thepresence of pins on the sphere 20 is optional, as is the presence ofpins 13 on the core 1. At least pins 23 originating from the wand 2 areprovided.

Remarkably, the core 1 and said wand 2 are made of different plasticmaterials, and are obtained by injection in one piece. A thermoplasticpolymer having good behavior during the injection and unmolding phasesis advantageously chosen by a person skilled in the art. This featuremakes it possible to adapt the chemical nature and the hardness of thepolymer to the behavior of the cosmetic composition to be applied. Inparticular, the wettability and adhesion behavior of the composition orformula on the core and the pins differs according to the chemicalnature of the applicator. Since each type of chemical formula has aspecific viscosity and surface tension, it has a given behavior withrespect to a given plastic material. The material used for manufacturingthe applicator by molding, depends on and direct affects the capacity ofthe chemical composition to “wet” and “adhere to” the surface thereof.In particular, the chemical composition is more or less retained on thesurface of the applicator, according to the nature of this surface. Thiseffect is very important when it is known that the applicator isintended to pass regularly through a wiper, a kind of ring placed on theneck of the container of the chemical composition. With each passage, acertain amount of composition remains attached to the applicator whileanother amount is trapped inside the container.

By way of illustration, the first plastic, used for the core 1, is a TPE(thermoplastic elastomer) material such as SEBS(polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenebutylene)-b-polystyrene) or PP/EPDM(ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer); the second plastic material, usedfor the flexible wand, is a TPE such as Hytrel (™) or belongs to the PE(polyethylene) family. Obviously, the pins 13 originating from the core1 are made of the first material, and the pins 23 originating from theflexible wand 2 are made of the second material. It is thus possible toprovide different pin geometries for the flexible wand 2 and for thecore 1. This feature can be contemplated and is compatible withconventional rheology rules; this possibility does not exist if theapplicator is molded from a single material, as in the prior art. Acertain and decisive advantage therefore results from using a pluralityof plastic materials for manufacturing an applicator according to theinvention by molding as a single part.

As will be explained below, the pins have an elongate shape; multipleshapes can be contemplated without departing from the scope of theinvention. The pins are not necessarily straight; they can be curved,all curving in the same direction or not. The can also be hook-shaped.

The hardness difference between the first plastic material, used for thecore 1 and the second plastic material, used for the supple wand 2, isbetween 5 Shore A and 5 Shore D. For illustrative purposes, the firstplastic material has a hardness of 70 Shore A and the second plasticmaterial has a hardness of 90 Shore A.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment which differs from that of FIG. 1 by thenumber of flexible wands 2 provided: two flexible wands are providedhere, arranged in the same longitudinal plane, i.e. with an angularseparation of 180°. According to this example, the two wands have thesame shape and the same size. FIG. 2A clearly shows this symmetricalarrangement with regard to a longitudinal plane. Each wand 2 is made ofthe same material, different from that of the core 1.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment according to which two wands 2 with convexshape are provided, each inset near one end 10, 11 of the core. Thewands belong to a longitudinal plane. Straight pins 13 originate fromthe core 1, while curved pins 23 originate from each flexible wand 2.The straight pins 13 can also have a planar surface located in a sharedlongitudinal plane.

FIGS. 4 to 10 schematically show variants of flexible wands 2; thus, itcan be understood that the flexible wands can be inset not only at bothends of the core, but also at one or two additional points.

FIG. 4 shows two wands 2: one 2A inset at both ends and at oneintermediate point; the second one 28 inset at both ends and at twointermediate points.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which a single wand 2C is provided,substantially inset at each end. The wand 2C has a corrugated shape,with three corrugations along the length thereof.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment with two wands 2D, 2E which extend in thesame longitudinal plane, with an angular separation of 180°. Each wand2D, 2E has a straight main portion which extends substantially along theXX axis, and two portions which extend substantially perpendicular tothe main portion. The advantage of this example of an embodiment lies inthat:

FIG. 7 shows a single flexible wand 2F having a substantiallylongitudinal main portion, and two perpendicular portions which are eachinset near one end 10, 11 of the core 1.

FIG. 8 relates to an applicator provided with two flexible wands 2G, 2H,belonging substantially to the same longitudinal plane; the wand 2G hasa corrugated portion which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis XX,and two perpendicular portions or tabs which are connected to each endof the corrugated portion and each inset onto the core 1. The wand 2Hhas a convex curvature and is inset substantially at the same points asthe wand 2G.

FIG. 9 has an applicator provided with flexible wands 21 each inset atone point onto the core 1; specifically, here, each wand 21 is attachednear one end 10, 11 of the core; each flexible wand is, furthermore,free at the second end thereof. This creates higher flexibility than inthe preceding examples, due to the fact that the ends of each wand 21are left free. A longer or shorter longitudinal space is thus provided;a person skilled in the art determines this dimensional parameteraccording to the circumstances. This longitudinal space can be of theorder of 10% of the length of the core 1.

FIG. 10 shows an example that differs from that of FIG. 9 by thelongitudinal arrangement of the flexible wands 2J: three flexible wands2J are inset at a single point onto the core 1, and free at the secondend thereof. Another flexible wand is inset at both ends thereof. Insetsare provided near each end 10, 11 of the core, as are intermediateinsets.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment according to which a supple wand 2 is madeup of two elongate portions 21, 22 belonging to the same longitudinalplane. The two elongate portions which extend substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axis XX are substantially parallel to one another andare inset together at two points. The two inset points are close to eachend 10, 11 of the core 1. Here a double arch is provided, mechanicallyreinforced relative to a single arch. This arrangement is interestingwhen seeking to create an intermediate cavity under the arches whichwill make it possible to trap the formula (or composition). This makesit possible to manage the capacity for loading the applicator as afunction of the viscosity of the formula.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is possible toprovide a single inset point for the two elongate portions 21, 22, ormore than two inset points.

Obviously, in every case, the core 1 is made of a first material and thewands 2 are made of at least one second material.

FIG. 12 relates to an embodiment which differs from that of FIG. 11 byhaving a larger number of elongate portions 21, 22 or pairs. Here, sixpairs of elongate portions are counted, each pair being distributed atregular angles. In addition, here it has been chosen to include a thirdplastic material, which is different from both the first material andthe second plastic material. The core is made of a first plasticmaterial; three pairs of elongate portions are made of a second plasticmaterial while three pairs of elongate portions are made of a thirdplastic material. It is thus possible to obtain different effects andthus different technical functions around the applicator. During themake-up gesture, the user rotates the applicator about the XX axis whenthe applicator comes into contact with the eyelashes. Thus, theeyelashes come into contact with pins that have different hardness andfeel in alternation.

FIG. 13 further shows another possible combination for the plasticmaterials of the flexible elongate portions 21, 22. The flexibleelongate portions 21, 22 which form one pair, i.e. which aresubstantially superimposed in a longitudinal plane, are here formedrespectively of a second plastic material and a third plastic material.

Furthermore, the number of pairs is variable, chosen by the personskilled in the art.

FIG. 14 relates to an embodiment according to which the core 1 isprovided with pins 13 oriented radially and distributed longitudinallyover a plurality of rows. This is not compulsory elsewhere. Theapplicator of FIG. 14 also comprises two flexible wands 2, each insetnear one end 10, 11 of the core 1. The flexible wands 2 are curved andconvex. They are also provided with a concave longitudinal reinforcement25 belonging to the same plane. Furthermore, the flexible wands 2 arehere provided with petal-shaped projections 23 in a front view. FIG. 14Aclearly shows this arrangement, by said front view. It is understoodthat the two flexible wands 2 are arranged diametrically opposite oneanother, and provided with petal-shaped projections 23. It can also beseen in the example of FIG. 14A that six rows of projections 13originating from the core are provided, arranged symmetrically relativeto a longitudinal plane. This embodiment is chosen when seeking toprovide two different functions in the same applicator (brush/comb). Thebrush is made of the portion without an arch (core 1 provided with pins13) and the comb is made up of the portion in which the pins 23 aresupported by an arch 2. The two arches 2, with an angular separation of180° relative to one another, meaning that the user only needs to rotateit through 180° to reach the comb position.

FIG. 15 is a variant of FIG. 14 in the sense that it shows an angularalternation of rows of flexible wands 2 provided with petals 23 and rowsof pins 13. This provides an overall more rigid applicator. Four rows ofpetal-shaped pins 23 are obtained here, associated with four rows ofpins 13 originating from the core 1.

FIG. 16 depicts an alternative according to which a flexible wand 2without projections is provided; in addition, an elongate core 1 isprovided along the longitudinal axis XX, substantially in the shape of afeather. The wand 2 and, specifically, the outer edge 26 thereof make itpossible to spread a cosmetic product onto the skin of the user, in thefashion of a “liner”. Projections or pins 13 are provided on the core 1;the pins 13 are preferably oriented perpendicularly to the outer surfaceof the core 1. The wand 2 and the core 1 are provided in the samelongitudinal plane as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 17, with anoverall elongate and flat shape of the applicator.

1.-13. (canceled)
 14. A device for applying a fluid and/or pasty productto keratinous fibers, comprising an elongate core extending along alongitudinal axis and at least one supple wand oriented longitudinallyand inset at least at one first point onto the longitudinal core, thecore and the at least one supple wand formed by injection as a singlepiece, wherein the core is made of a first plastic material, the atleast one supple wand is made of at least one second plastic materialand a minimum hardness difference between the first plastic material andthe at least one second plastic material is 5 Shore A or 5 Shore D. 15.The device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one supple wandis inset near a first end of the core and/or near a second end of thecore.
 16. The device according to claim 14, further comprising at leastone second supple wand formed from a third plastic material.
 17. Thedevice according to claim 14 further comprising projections provided onand originating from the core and/or from the at least one supple wand.18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the projections have anelongate shape and are oriented substantially radially in relation tothe longitudinal axis.
 19. The device according to claim 14 wherein theat least one supple wand is formed of two elongate and curved portionslying in an identical longitudinal plane, the two portions beingsubstantially parallel to one another and inset onto the core, togetherat least at one point.
 20. The device according to claim 19, wherein thetwo elongate portions of the supple wand are inset together at twopoints near each end of the core.
 21. The device according to any claim17, wherein the projections are provided on at least one of the supplewands and are petal-shaped in a front view.
 22. The device according toclaim 15, wherein one of the ends of the core is provided withprojections made of a second plastic material.
 23. The device accordingto claim 14, wherein the core has substantially an elongate feathershape along the longitudinal axis and the at least one supple wand isconfigured to spread a cosmetic composition onto skin via an outerlongitudinal edge, and wherein the core and the at least one supple wandare arranged substantially in the same longitudinal plane.
 24. Thedevice according to claim 15, wherein the at least one supple wand isinset at the two ends thereof, has a convex shape, and is provided witha concave reinforcement belonging to the same longitudinal plane. 25.The device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one supple wandhas a corrugated shape.